I enjoy learning. I really do. I enjoy learning because it provides me with more capabilities.

I’ve always wanted to write my computer programs, mainly games, productivity apps for Google Play and the Apple Store, and anything else I can think of. Anything that can prove to be a source of residual income is worth pursuing in my mind.

I like to write. I’m working on my first fiction story. How do I create scenes, meaningful dialogue, and pace my story? It’s all available to you if you take the time to find it. Courses, other authors, blogs, books, magazines. This stuff is available everywhere. You just have to look, try something out, and look again if that source didn’t work out.

What is practical learning? Practical learning is learning with a purpose—a necessity. If you own an iPhone, learn how to use it. If you have a computer, learn how to use email, basic office programs like a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, and even a database if you track a lot of stuff.

If you want to write a book, take a course on it, interact with other authors and get their advice. Read some books. Take some courses.

I would like to learn a new language. I want to learn Spanish. My wife is from Mexico and it would be great to speak to her in her native language. I am also looking to retire in Panama at some point and it would be nice to speak the language with the people that live there.

When you set out to learn something, don’t just learn to learn. It’s a waste of time. Learn something that adds to you. Learn something that helps make your life easier. Learn something that keeps you relevant. New technology? Learn it. New hobby? Learn it. Health problem? Research it and learn about it from your doctor. Weight lifting? Learn how to do it. There are tons of topics you can learn that will give you more capability to produce more, create more, and continue to interact in this highly technical world.

Don’t fall behind. Embrace change. Embrace new technologies. Embrace learning. All of us should continue to learn new things daily. You have time, turn off the television. You have time; you commute to work. You have time, because learning new things will save you time in the long run. Take one course on Udemy that will provide you with more capability. Typically, you can find a course on sale for about $12 U.S. You can take one lesson in that course a day and it will only require 3-20 minutes of your time.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. I hope all of you have a terrific Wednesday!

I always joke with my Mom and Dad about having all the world’s books on my phone. I also joke about all the world’s music on my phone and how nice it is to be able to access books, music, and movies anywhere I am. Another benefit of the technological advances we enjoy is the ability to take online courses.

I present a discussion each month at our local library about various philosophical and religious topics. The topic I have selected for December is on Dreams. My local leadership has decided to begin postering for these events so that the public is more aware of what we are doing and will have the option to attend. Guess who got assigned to create the poster? (laugh).

I didn’t know what other people in my organization were using to create posters in their areas, so I reached out. They came back with PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, and MS Publisher. Since MS Publisher is part of my MS Office 365 subscription, this is what I went with. As soon as I opened it up, I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. So, I began looking for a tutorial or course I could take. My search helped me find an MS Publisher course on Udemy!

Since I’m very familiar with the Udemy platform, I paid the $12 for the course. Note: If you get on Udemy and find a course you want that is more than $10-12, wait. They have sales all year long and it will get into this range at some point. If you really need to take a course in a particular topic area, keep looking. You will find a course that meets your price range and will deliver the content you are looking for.

The course is composed of 1-3 minute presentations on each part of the platform and advances all the way to creating a project and finishing it. I like bite-size presentations that I can take each day and then practice on the real application afterwards. The course link is above. You may not have any need for MS Publisher, but you may need to learn something else. Google it. You’ll find what you are looking for on one of the online education platforms or on YouTube.

I wanted to show that regardless of the problem you are facing, you can find a solution. Whenever we embark on doing something that is unfamiliar, you can find a place to learn easily on the Internet. Don’t let a lack of knowledge hold you back from your dream. The knowledge you seek is only a few mice clicks away.

If you are taking an online course that you really enjoy, send a link to me in the comments.